Juan Fernandez Island, Chile Photograph by WWF/ J.C. Cardenas   Island group off the coast of central Chile in the Pacific Ocean Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests   50 square miles (100 square kilometers) -- about the size of Washington DC Critical/Endangered

· An Emerald Chain of Islands
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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An Emerald Chain of Islands

Three main islands make up the Juan Fernández Islands chain: Mas a Tierra (or Robinson Crusoe), Mas Afuera (or Alejandro Selkirk), and Santa Clara. Each of the Juan Fernández Islands formed as volcanic material erupted from the ocean floor and built up over thousands of years, with Mas a Tierra breaking the ocean surface first--some four million years ago. The islands now rise precipitously out of the sea and are marked by steep and rugged terrain.

Special Features

A maritime climate prevails in this region. Oceanic breezes drift past myriad volcanic outcroppings along the coasts and on up the slopes and through the forests. A mixture of both introduced and native species of grasses and shrubs dominates the lower elevations of the islands. As the slopes rise, the vegetation shifts to low forests and woodlands. Montane cloud forest covers the islands’ upper reaches, and gradually gives way to alpine tundra. The highest peak in the island chain rises about 5,400 feet (1620 m) into the sky. Millions of years of isolation have created unique habitats and an abundant number of endemic plant species. There are no native mammals, amphibians, or reptiles on the islands, though species of each, including the islands’ only frog, have been introduced since humans began to occupy the region. There are nine native terrestrial bird species, three of which are endemic at the species level, while the remaining six are endemic sub-species.

	Juan Fernández petrels and Stejnegers petrels nest in rookeries tucked into the craggy outcroppings of this island chain. Rookeries of these two species can be found nowhere else in the world.

Wild Side

In the canopy of the montane cloud forests, a flash of color flutters through the lush growth of the trees. A male Juan Fernández firecrown, an endemic species of hummingbird, hangs upside down from one foot while he drinks nectar from a yellow flower. This incredible bird has earned his name from the colors on his crown, which shift from emerald to scarlet, depending on the light. His mate is no less impressive in her cloak of iridescent blue, green, and white. Nearby, another endemic bird, the Mas Afuera rayadito, forages for insects and small fruits. A Juan Fernández sparrowhawk dives after a Juan Fernández tit-tyrant along the forest edge. In the absence of mammals and lizards, a short-eared owl visits bird colonies along the coast in search of young petrels. Another endemic, the Juan Fernández red-backed hawk, also relies on a diet of other birds and spends the day hunting austral thrushes, austral blackbirds, petrel chicks, and other species.

Cause for Concern

Severe habitat destruction makes the Juan Fernández Islands a critical conservation priority. Human settlers have introduced exotic invasive species that threaten many of the island’s endemic species. Goats and rabbits, for example, have increased erosion throughout the landscape. Feral cats hunt the many endemic bird species, drastically reducing their populations. The 195 introduced and invasive plant groups are displacing local endemics as well. Forests are being cut for construction materials and for firewood. Habitat loss and invasive species have caused the extinction of several plant species, and at least three-quarters of the remaining native plants are threatened or endangered.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.